Sleeping disorders are very real, and for many people there is a huge disconnect between the amount of sleep they need, and the amount of sleep they get. If you’ve ever wondered about taking a natural sleep product like CBD oil for sleep, here’s a comprehensive guide of everything you need to know.
CBD oil for sleep – what’s the evidence?
If you’ve ever suffered with sleeping problems, you may have found yourself suddenly in “the vicious sleep cycle”. You can’t sleep one night and all of a sudden it’s not sleeping that’s the problem – it’s the worry about not sleeping! Nightmare.
One way in which CBD is thought to help is by addressing the underlying anxiety around sleep. CBD interferes with cortisol secretion, the hormone which is released around anxiety/stress that will keep you awake. Lower cortisol levels equals better sleep.
Another way which CBD is thought to help is by activating our serotonin receptors in our brains – thought to make us a little happier and less anxious.
What’s the best way to take CBD oil for sleep?
There are a dizzying array of CBD products out there, from capsules, cbd drops, topicals to edibles and lots more. But which one is the best product for sleep?
We suggest for first time CBD users starting simple with a CBD oil placed under the tongue. CBD oil drops have good absorption and faster onset time than something that needs to pass through the digestive system like a capsule or edible.
Put the CBD oil drops under your tongue – leave for 2-3 minutes for absolute maximum absorption and then swallow. Simples!
We love accompanying CBD oil with CBD tea for sleep, which we enjoy around an hour before bed.
How to find a CBD oil for sleep in Ireland?
There are a few non-negotiables when looking for a high quality CBD oil for sleep in Ireland.
- Is it full spectrum?
Full spectrum oils are shown in studies outperform other CBD oils. Natural plant compounds work better when in balance with all other plant compounds.
- Is it organic?
Make sure no man-made fertilisers, herbicides or pesticides make their way from the hemp plant to your CBD oil you are about to ingest!
- Are the CBD ingredients clean?
You don’t want to be taking a natural health product only to find nasty ingredients added which will un-do any of these health effects. Put back that “lemon-flavoured” CBD oil. The less ingredients, the better.
Other things to note are other cannabinoids, CBN in particular is good for sleep and look out for relaxing ingredients like myrcene, linalool and beta-caryophyllene terpenes. One of our favourite cbd oils for sleep is BioBloom
When to take CBD oil for sleep?
This is a tricky question and not as simple as it first seems. In order to work out when to take CBD oil for sleep, you first need to dig deep and try and uncover why you are having trouble sleeping in the first place.
If you are not sleeping because you are stressed during the day, the secret then is to take CBD at small doses around 2 – 3 times during the day in order to help you sleep at night. (It’s likely the cortisol hormone being released during the day is impacting your ability to sleep)
Alternatively, if this is just insomnia related, take CBD around 20mins before bed.
How much CBD oil to take for sleep?
Like alcohol, CBD is biphasic. This means at smaller doses, it is energising and larger doses are sedating.
So if you are taking CBD oil during the day, take smaller amounts (e.g. 5 – 10mg) At night time, take a bigger dose (at least 10mg).
But saying that, there really is no perfect dose that works for everyone exactly the same. So start low, and experiment with the dose to find the minimum effective dose that works for you. Enjoy and sleep tight!
